The Signs of the Apocalypse

The Will

In the pitch-black night of the field, a man with a scar on his face watched men in suits and women in dresses gather in rows, their cheeks wrinkled and their eyes filled with tears. Under their steps lie mud and gravel, with the sky free of any stars or distractions of any kind.

The man stood on the end of the aisle waiting, nervously gripping the ring that wrapped around his finger. Patiently, he waited, watching fireflies buzz around the damp ground, listening to the crickets roaring their cacophony over the entire gathering.

At long last she came, pushing her way through the tall grass. Clad in a pristine white gown that clung tightly to her skin, she shambled towards him. He blinked, and when he opened his eyes she was there beside him.

"I've been waiting," said the man. 

"For how long?" she replied. 

He smiled, blinking away the tears. "It felt like ages."

She looked around, shaking her head. One of the guest waved at her.

"Who are these people?" she asked.

"Our friends," he answered, pointing at them one by one. "There, Percy. There, Luisa."

There was silence, observed even by the insects that seemed to take a break from their responsibilities. The croaking of a frog marked the end of the pause, nature resuming its discord.

"I... don't remember them, love."

"What do you remember then?" he said, holding her hands in his. Cold. So cold.

"I was alone, and I, I was missing you so much." she swallowed, pulling her hands back. On her right wrist lay a deep slash, with the inner flesh exposed and blood pouring out. The man brushed his fingers along the wound, the bleeding ending and the skin reconstructing anew. 

"I made a mistake. Where am I?"

He couldn't reply.

"The fields, this place. Why did you have to bring me here?"

Around them were gravestones, and they both noted the one that belonged to him.

"It was the first thing that came to mind, love. I'm sorry."

She flickered, like a candlestick against a soft breeze. 

"What's happening to me?"

"I'll be the guardian over you, watching you, protecting you. So, go."

He wrapped her in an embrace, pulling away long enough to give her a kiss. So warm now, warmer than anything in this world yet. When he opened his eyes, she was gone, back to her reality.

Elation escaped him faster than water out of a bucket with holes. He should have been happy, but how could he be? When his love would be away from him for so much longer?

He crumpled to the ground, the crowd of skeletons crumbling away to dust. Alone, in pure silence. Waiting once more. Between the time and the solitude, who knew how long he could keep his sanity.

But he would keep it together until then. He needed to see her once more.